# Meitei people in Tripura

The Meitei people (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯀꯥꯡꯂꯨꯞ), also called Manipuri people (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯀꯥꯡꯂꯨꯞ), is one of the minority ethnic groups in Tripura. Meiteis call the land of Tripura as "Takhel" (Meitei: ꯇꯈꯦꯜ) or "Takhen" (Meitei: ꯇꯈꯦꯟ) in their language. In September 2020, their population was estimated to be approximately 23,779.
In Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, Meitei speaking population is the fourth largest linguistic group of people, after Bengalis, Tripuris and Hindi speakers, according to 2011 census.
The Tripura Meiteis are recognized under the OBC category in Tripura.

## History

There were royal matrimonial alliances between the royal houses of Tripura and Manipur during the days of monarchies. Numerous Meitei women became queens of Tripura kingdom. Kings of Tripura married not only Meitei princesses but also many Meitei girls from the commoners' families. Numerous Meitei queens of Tripura contributed to the public welfare works of the kingdoms. These frequent marriage alliances not only brought good relationship between the two kingdoms but also the cultural assimilation of Meitei culture with Tripuri culture. Besides the royalties, the tradition of marrying Meitei ladies were even practised by many nobles of Tripura. The Meitei subjects of these Meitei queens came from Manipur and settled in Tripura. These started the early settlements of the Meiteis in the land of Tripura.

## Language

Meitei language (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ/মৈতৈ লোন, romanized: Meitei Lon), also known as the Manipuri language (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟ/মণিপুরী লোন, romanized: Manipuri Lon), is one of the seven officially declared minority languages, besides Kokborok and Bengali, recognised by the Government of Tripura. Its promotion and development are done by the Directorate of Kokborok & Other Minority Languages, established in August 2012.
Meitei language was introduced in [[Tripura University]] since 2023.

## Displacement

A militant group named "National Liberation Front of Tripura" targeted and forcibly displaced numerous minority Meiteis, especially peasants, from their settlements to other places in Tripura.
There were around 150 Meitei villages in Tripura during independence of India (1947), but the number reduced to less than 100 in the 2010s. Mekhli Para was founded in 1798, and was first inhabited by Meiteis, but it does not have any Meetei inhabitants in the 2010s.

## Culture
### Clothing

Innaphi (Meitei: ꯏꯟꯅꯐꯤ) is a traditional Meitei cloth. A Meitei woman from Tripura, achieved the National Handloom Award 2023 given by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for her exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to the traditional art of handloom weaving Innaphi attires.
Meitei women wear numerous traditional clothes such as Rani Phi (Meitei: ꯔꯥꯅꯤ ꯐꯤ), Wangkhei Phi (Meitei: ꯋꯥꯡꯈꯩ ꯐꯤ), Moirang Phi (Meitei: ꯃꯣꯏꯔꯥꯡ ꯐꯤ), Phige (Meitei: ꯐꯤꯒꯦ) and Phanek (Meitei: ꯐꯅꯦꯛ). Meitei menfolk wear Khudei (Meitei: ꯈꯨꯗꯩ).

### Festivals

Tripura Government recognised Meitei festival of Umang Lai Haraoba (Lai Haraoba dedicated to the Umang Lais) as one of their state festivals in 2015. Some of its celebrations are helped by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, alongside the traditional Meitei religious institutions.

### Monuments
#### Statue of Paona Brajabashi

In April 2019, Manipuri Literary and Cultural Forum, Tripura and Paona Brajabashi Foundation Tripura, together opened a statue of Paona Brajabasi (Meitei: ꯄꯥꯎꯅꯥ ꯕ꯭ꯔꯖꯕꯥꯁꯤ), a Meitei freedom fighter, to the public in Gouranagar, Tripura.

#### Statue of Nupi Lan

In 2023, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and Manipuri Literary & Cultural Forum, Tripura, collectively opened a statue of Nupi Lan (Meitei: ꯅꯨꯄꯤ ꯂꯥꯟ) to the public, at Gournagar in Khowai district, Tripura.

### Performing arts

Manipuri Raas Leela (Meitei: ꯖꯒꯣꯏ ꯔꯥꯁ) is celebrated as a big festival by the Meitei Hindus in Tripura. Wari Leeba (Meitei: ꯋꯥꯔꯤ ꯂꯤꯕ) is a traditional Meitei storytelling art tradition. Its popularity is declining among the Meiteis of Tripura.

### Religions

Daughters of the Meitei kings of Manipur, who became queens of Tripura, built numerous temples and established multiple cults of different deities in Tripura. Among the Hindu deities, the cults of Krishna, Radha, Madhav, Govinda, etc. were established. The pantheon of Meitei deities of traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) is also kept alive by the Meiteis in Tripura. Notably, the Lai Haraoba (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏ ꯍꯔꯥꯎꯕ) religious festival is annually celebrated in honour of numerous deities, especially God Puthiba (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯄꯨꯊꯤꯕ).

## Groups

* Manipuri Literary and Cultural Forum, Tripura

## Notable people

* Khuman Chanu Manmohini Devi (Meitei: ꯈꯨꯃꯟ ꯆꯅꯨ ꯃꯟꯃꯣꯍꯤꯅꯤ ꯗꯦꯕꯤ), a Meitei queen of Tripura, wife of Tripuri King Bir Chandra Manikya, and also the first female self photographer of India.
* Sorokhaibam Gambhini (Meitei: ꯁꯣꯔꯣꯛꯈꯥꯏꯕꯝ ꯒꯝꯚꯤꯅꯤ), a Meitei poetess from Tripura, who won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2023.
* Konjengbam Sarita Devi (Meitei: ꯀꯣꯟꯖꯦꯡꯕꯝ ꯁꯔꯤꯇꯥ ꯗꯦꯕꯤ), a Meitei writer who represented Tripura in the "All India Women Writers' meet" organized by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.
* Nirmala Sinha (Meitei: ꯅꯤꯔꯃꯂꯥ ꯁꯤꯟꯍꯥ), a Meitei woman from Barasurma village in Dhalai District, who was awarded the National Handloom Award 2023 by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
* Khoisnam Birola (Meitei: ꯈꯣꯏꯁꯅꯥꯝ ꯕꯤꯔꯣꯂꯥ), a meitei poet from Agartala has been appointed as member in meitei Language Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi ,New Delhi (2023 - 2027). She is the first meitei women who become member from outside Manipur [39]